Sidewalk barbershops are a symbol of old Saigon. In the face of globalization and its demands for westernization, the sight of a simple chair placed beneath an awning where one can get an affordable trim just a few meters from a busy street is gradually vanishing.

“We’re going to Taipei on VietJet Air,” an acquaintance said to me. An international flight on Vietnam’s notoriously delayed airline didn’t sound like the best idea ever. But who would expect that I was set to fly to Tainan, a city on the island's southwest coast, just a few hours after the brief conversation with her. The reality was that I found it excruciatingly difficult to reject a cheap flight deal.

In full "ninja" attire, I braved congested streets under the scorching sun looking for the address. Finally, having spotted a sign that reads 'OldSchool Barbell System’ tucked deep inside Binh Thanh District, I hopped the curb, cheated my way to the destination towards a wide parking spot and prepared to enter a world secluded from the chaotic surroundings.

"Saigon in its golden age was a time to be remembered and passed down to younger generations. The vintage aesthetic trend in Vietnam has been around for a couple of years now and for me, it is a cause for celebration," owner Anh Tuyet said of the trend that has swept cafés and restaurants citywide. Thị's customers, meanwhile, are here for more than just the aesthetic.

Few people are aware that Saigon has an affordable, world-class emergency ambulance response service offering state-of-the-art treatment that begins the moment a call is placed from anywhere in the country.

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and stories. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the second chapter: Change over time.

During recent years, Hanoi has witnessed many substantial transformations. The historical city center is seeing a massive densification of its urban fabric, as well as growth in terms of height. In the case of the Old Quarter, for example, these trends have been accommodated by widespread demolition of traditional tube houses. Many older structures, when not demolished, have been modified.

An old colonial building next to St. Joseph's Cathedral (2010 - 2014).

Due to poor maintenance, beautiful old brick tile roofs were widely replaced with simple corrugated metal sheets to prevent leaks. Wooden shutters, also a typical feature of old Hanoi, were almost completely substituted with metal bars and glass windows. Later modifications were also made to allow for the installation of air conditioners, which have become a visually inharmonious feature to the historical facades.

All in all, Hanoi has seen a massive loss of architectural heritage in the course of modernization. Opinions vary, but at least the city center is still a mixed-use area with mostly small-scale structures that have served to preserve the area’s vibrancy.

An old shop retains its heritage despite its modern makeover (1996 - 2014).

Without question, the Old Quarter should not be transformed into a stagnant museum piece, but the last remaining pearls of old residential houses should be preserved by providing homeowners with advise and economic support to renovate their houses in an authentic way.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the book is available at all Artbook stores, at the War Remnants Museum and also at the international airport terminal. In Hanoi, the book is available at Infostone bookshop, at the larger shops of Hanoi Book Company, at Bookworm, at Golden Bookshop and the bookshop of Ho Chi Minh Museum.